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Monday Media Transcript: TE Rhett Ellison

Eric from BBI : Admin : 6/4/2018 2:55 pm
TE Rhett Ellison
June 4, 2018
 
Q: Is this offense what you remember from your days in Minnesota?
A: Yeah, there’s definitely some similarities, and there’s been some tweaks. So, this offseason period has been good to kind of get back into what I used to know, and also what [Head Coach Pat] Shurmur put in when I wasn’t there. So, it’s been fun.
 
Q: Is Shurmur using you differently now than how you were used in Minnesota?
A: Yeah, it’s really way too early to tell exactly how he’s going to utilize me and the tight ends and the position groups and stuff like that. Right now we’re just trying to get this offense running.
 
Q: Is this a balanced offense, or is it more pass-heavy?
A: Like I said, it’s too early to tell exactly what this offense is going to look like. It’s, what, week three of OTAs, so we’re just getting the playbook in, we’re trying to do a little more move the ball and see where we’re at. But yeah, its still just too early to tell what’s going on.
 
Q: How different is Shurmur as a head coach than when you had him as an offensive coordinator in Minnesota?
A: Shurmur, he is what you’re going to get, like that’s who he is. He doesn’t change around different people or in different positions, he is who he is. He’s real, he’s a great communicator and he’s a great teacher. The speed that we’re picking up this offense is really awesome and that’s a credit to him and the coaches that he hired.
 
Q: Why do you think the team is able to pick up the offense so quickly?
A: Some coaches are really good at teaching the system. He keeps it simple, he kind of has a good way of explaining it and he has coaches that all know the system very well. Like bringing in [Offensive Coordinator Mike] Shula, who’s been in this system and stuff like that. So, there’s just a lot of years, a lot of experience teaching this system.
 
Q: How would you describe this offensive system?
A: Yeah, when I’m talking [about] system, it’s really just the language of how the plays are called because obviously football is football and it’s the game situations that are going to decide what plays you’re running. But as far as the system, it’s more number-based, but also concept-based. A lot of the systems are word-based and some systems are numbers, so it’s just a combination of that. So, yeah, that’s what I mean when I say different system.
 
Q: Is Shurmur counting on you more to help your teammates with the system, since you already kind of know the language?
A: It’s just, since I’ve been in this system, I can help, I can answer questions to my group. But also, like I said, the coaches that he brought in, they are doing an outstanding job of teaching the system. So yeah, it helps that I know the system, but I’m not per se teaching, that’s what the coaches are for.
 
Q: Is it an easy offensive system to learn?
A: I just depends. Because I’m familiar with it, it seems easier to me, but you’ve got to ask another guy that wasn’t in this system to see what he thinks of it.
 
Q: You did have to learn the system at one time though, right?
A: Yeah, I had to learn it one time. So yeah, I remember that it was very different than what I was used to. Because with [former Minnesota Offensive Coordinator] Norv [Turner], it was like, strictly number-based. Like I said, Shurmur has found a balance of numbers and words. So yeah, for me, it was very difficult at first because I had come from college systems where it’s just word concepts, and then this idea of routes equal numbers and stuff like that and protections. So, it took me a little bit to develop in it. It took our team, the Minnesota Vikings, it took us awhile to really get comfortable in it and like said, Shurmur and the coaches that he hired, they are great teachers and you’re seeing it translate to the field very quickly.
 
Q: Shurmur and General Manager Dave Gettleman have repeatedly talked about a ‘clean slate’. Does the team put last year’s disappointment behind them and completely forget about it?
A: Yeah, I mean, you have to look yourself in the mirror, you have to look at why we were 3-13 individually. And then that’s what the offseason is. You’re building on that, you’re trying to get better at your weaknesses, strengthen your strengths, make the corrections and just changing the culture. Because you obviously don’t want that 3-13 culture to carry over into this season. So, I think it’s just like any mistake you make, you just look at it and you make the correction and you move on.
 
Q: What has been most impressive about running back Saquon Barkley?
A: He’s a humble guy. He just comes in and he works. Anytime you have a rookie, especially a first round pick like that, and they come in just ready to work with their head down, that’s the best you can ask for. Obviously, it’s hard to tell when you’re playing in underwear to see the physicality of the game. But I’d say his work ethic and just his humility is pretty cool.
 
Q: How is it lining up next to left tackle Nate Solder?
A: It’s awesome. He’s a great dude and yeah, I think the o-line is coming together really nice, especially with him there. Yeah, he’s a great dude.
I'm really hoping we see a lot of 2 TE sets.  
Knee of Theismann : 6/4/2018 3:23 pm : link
I know Shurmur used 2 TE sets in Minnesota, and I just like the personnel we have for that look. We can really pound the rock with SB if we like (Ellison is an excellent blocker and Engram is at least a capable blocker), but we still have our 4 most dangerous receiving weapons on the field who can all create mismatches and get open. It's also nice because if Flowers/Wheeler do struggle on the right side at all we'd have a little insurance plan with lining Rhett up on the right and making sure Eli doesn't get killed.
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